Austria says to invest $20m in Expo 2020 Dubai

Austria has committed to Expo 2020 Dubai and plans to invest AED74.6 million ($20.3 million) on its participation.

The European country signed an official participation contract for Expo 2020 Dubai at the innovation conference Austria Connect Gulf 2018.

Austria said its participation will cement its position as an innovation leader in the high-tech field of digitization, research and development as well as a strong and reliable partner in the Middle East region

Dr Beatrix Karl, former minister and Commissioner General of Austria’s Expo 2020, said: “We have set high targets to position Austria as a strong and reliable partner in the Middle East region and before an international audience of millions.

"Two million visitors visited the Austrian Expo Pavilion in Milan in 2015. Ten percent of these visitors visited the Austrian Pavilion alone. We aim to beat this record in the UAE.”

The announcement comes just days after Ireland confirmed its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Expo 2020 will run for six months from October 20, 2020 and expects to welcome more than 200 participants, including more than 180 nations, multinational organisations, businesses and educational institutions.

Expo 2020 expects to receive 25 million visits, with 70 percent of visitors due to come from outside the UAE – the largest proportion in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 170 nations have already either publically or privately confirmed their participation. Further national participation announcements are expected in the coming months.